GSK Vows to End Doctor Payments by 2016: Shells Out $15M in 2014

In the wake of federal investigation in 2013, GlaxoSmithKline announced sizable changes in its marketing practices, including stopping direct payments to healthcare professionals for speaking engagements and attendance at medical conferences, by 2016.

But according to a GSK report, the drugmaker paid U.S. doctors about $15 million in 2014 to promote and learn about its products -- which is little change from 2013.

The fees are part of a larger report on all payments to outside doctors, which totaled $36.4 million for GSK. Similar data from all drugmakers was recently released by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. According to the report, Pfizer reported at least $53.3 million in 2014 for non-research outlays to doctors. Merck paid at least $27.5 million, and AstraZeneca Plc spent at least $72.5 million.

Bayer has exercised its option, under a change-in-control clause in the collaboration agreement with Loxo Oncology, to obtain the exclusive licensing rights for the global development and commercialization of two cancer drugs.

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